Search

Do you believe in luck? - Royal Canadian Mint Issues 2008 Lucky Loonie

OTTAWA, July 23 /CNW Telbec/ - With the Beijing Olympic Games and Beijing
Paralympic Games just around the corner, the Royal Canadian Mint is proud to
issue the 2008 Lucky Loonie, the latest in its extensive Olympic themed
circulation coin program. The one-dollar coin, which features the familiar
loon landing in water and the official emblem of the Canadian Olympic Team,
enters into circulation today.
"Canadians from coast to coast can wish our athletes luck by keeping
special coins produced by the Royal Canadian Mint, including the 2008 Lucky
Loonie," said Ian E. Bennett, President and CEO of the Royal Canadian Mint.
"The Mint has provided each member of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic
Teams competing in Beijing with a Lucky Loonie as their own personal good luck
charm and through the launch of the coin, Canadians also have an opportunity
to own a piece of the Olympic dream."
Ten million 2008 Lucky Loonies, designed by Quebec wildlife artist
Jean-Luc Grondin, have been produced and will be distributed exclusively by
RBC Royal Bank and are available at RBC branches across the country. RBC is a
Premier National Partner of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter
Games. Canadians can also look for these special coins in their change.
The Mint and RBC are also inviting the general public to obtain their
very own 2008 Lucky Loonie by attending coin exchanges to be held on July 29,
2008 from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm at various RBC branches across the country,
including the following:
- Royal Centre Branch, 1025 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC
- Place Ville Marie Branch, 1 Place Marie, Montreal, QC
- Clayton Park Branch, 271 Lacewood Drive, Halifax, NS
Coin exchanges will also be held at Royal Canadian Mint boutiques in
Ottawa and Winnipeg from July 25-27, 2008, during regular business hours.
In addition to the circulation coin, the Mint is also offering the
following 2008 Lucky Loonie keepsakes, located at www.mint.ca/goodluck: a
unique 2008 Lucky Loonie keychain ($11.95); a sterling silver collector
version of the 2008 Lucky Loonie, featuring the painted official emblem of the
Canadian Olympic Team ($49.95); the first day 2008 Lucky Loonie ($15.95); and
the 2008 Lucky Loonie circulation coin roll ($44.95). These products are also
available for purchase by calling 1-800-267-7000.
The Mint is also inviting Canadians from across the country to visit
www.mint.ca/goodluck to share their own luck stories and enter a contest to
win a one-ounce 2008 Gold Maple Leaf coin and other Royal Canadian Mint
Olympic themed keepsakes. The website will also feature tales of good luck,
submitted by 2008 RBC Olympians.
Background
In June, 2006, the Royal Canadian Mint became an Official Supporter of
the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with the signing of an
agreement with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). The Mint has undertaken to produce the most
extensive circulation coin program in relation to the Olympic Games ever
conceived by any mint worldwide. The Mint has exclusive rights for the 2010
Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in the Minting of circulation, Precious
Metal and Base Metal Numismatic and Bullion Coins product and service category
and will also be responsible for minting the athlete medals.
During its three-year program, the Mint will put into circulation 17
coins in Canada featuring designs related to the 2010 Winter Games. Thirty-six
limited mintage collector coins and sets will also be offered. Canadians from
coast to coast can share in the pride and touch the Games by collecting and
saving these special Canadian coins.
About the Royal Canadian Mint
The Royal Canadian Mint, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in
2008, is the Crown Corporation responsible for the minting and distribution of
Canada's circulation coins. An ISO 9001-2000 certified company, the Mint is
recognized as one of the largest and most versatile mints in the world,
offering a wide range of specialized, high quality coinage products and
related services on an international scale. For more information on the Mint's
history, its products and services, please visit www.mint.ca.
RBC's Sponsorship of Olympics and Amateur Sport
RBC sponsors amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local communities
to national sport associations that support the development of amateur
athletes who compete at home and abroad. As Canada's longest-standing
supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team, since 1947, RBC continues this
sponsorship through the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
RBC is also a Premier Sponsor of Hockey Canada, the Canadian Snowboard
Federation, the Canadian Freestyle Ski Association, Athletics Canada and the
Canadian Paralympic Committee.
Lucky Loonie images are available by visiting
ftp://communications:RCM2007@ftp.mint.ca.
/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
members of the media/

For further information:

For further information: Christine Aquino, Director, Communications
Royal Canadian Mint, (613) 993-9999, aquino@mint.ca